The 2026 NFL Draft is less than four months away, and two key milestones happen in January — the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl. After those workouts, performance drills and plays on the field, who is rising and falling in the 2026 NFL Draft
Some players confirmed their status as elite prospects with strong showings, while others left evaluators questioning their upside at the next level. Below, we will look at three risers and three fallers as we head into the NFL Scouting Combine and individual workout season before the draft arrives in April.
2026 NFL Draft Risers & Fallers
NFL Draft Risers
Mark Gronowski (QB – Iowa)
The 2026 NFL Draft quarterback class is not considered an especially strong one after presumed number one pick Fernando Mendoza. So anything a quarterback can do to separate themselves from the pack could go a long way to improving their draft stock in April. Quarterback Mark Gronowski checked that box recently when he was named the offensive MVP of the East-West Shrine Bowl. In that game, he completed 7-of-10 passes for 86 yards and rushed for another 28 yards. He was also a key force in blocking when he helped secure a rushing touchdown for his team.
Gronowski was also named to the “All-Practice” team after some lackluster stats at Iowa, but an impressive showing in this showcase game. Gronowski finished 2025 with just 1,741 passing yards and 10 passing touchdowns, but he also rushed for 545 yards and an astonishing 16 touchdowns after transferring from South Dakota State to Iowa last year. He could find himself an NFL roster spot thanks to his dual-threat ability.
Demond Claiborne (RB – Wake Forest)
At the East-West Shrine Bowl, running back Demond Claiborne showcased excellent body agility and strong hands in the passing game. He became one of the most consistent producers during the practice sessions. Normally thought of as a typical change-of-pace back, Claiborne showed excellent pass-catching ability to go along with his 1,047 yards from scrimmage in 2025. Claiborne finished 2025 with 10 touchdowns on just 208 touches.
At running back, Claiborne is one of only a handful of players who could boast more than five yards per carry, five yards per reception and 10 scores in one season. He has been thought of as a no-doubt Day 3 running back, but his stock is on the rise and he could sneak into the back of the third round with a good combine performance.
Ted Hurst (WR – Georgia)
Ted Hurst was apparently showing off with some true highlight-reel catches at the Senior Bowl. Standing 6-foot-3 and 207 pounds, he has good size for the NFL, but was not highly-regarded playing at Georgia State. This was the first time Hurst had a lot of eyeballs on his playmaking ability and he turned a lot of heads, including that of ESPN’s Field Yates. Yates declared during the week that Hurst could move into the third round with continued strong performances.
Hurst had an outstanding 1,004 yards on 71 receptions this season, averaging more than 14 yards per catch. After more than 17 yards per reception in 2024, scouts are starting to take notice that Hurst is a burner who can make big plays all over the field.
NFL Draft Fallers
Diego Pavia (QB – Vanderbilt)
Diego Pavia may have finished as the runner-up in the Heisman Trophy race to Fernando Mendoza, but his draft stock has been plummeting ever since, despite his breakout season at Vanderbilt. Pavia measured in at just 5-foot-9 and 7/8 inches at the Senior Bowl despite Vanderbilt listing him as six-feet tall. Drew Brees and Kyler Murray have had some success as short quarterbacks in the NFL, but Pavia’s measurements could be damning. He also checked in at under 200 pounds, which would make him the lightest quarterback in the NFL.
Add it all together, and the future does not look good for Pavia to be drafted as an NFL quarterback. After six seasons of NCAA football, Pavia is already 24 years old. Despite his 39 total touchdowns in 2025, he has a steep uphill battle to try to latch on as a quarterback for an NFL team. Can he make it as a running back or fullback? He seems too light to play either of those roles.
Nicholas Singleton (RB – Penn State)
Like much of the Penn State offense in 2025, running back Nicholas Singleton disappointed after an amazing season in 2024. In that campaign, Singleton rushed for 1,099 yards, caught 41 passes for 375 yards and amassed 17 total touchdowns. In 2025, Singleton managed only 549 rushing yards and 219 receiving yards. He did have 14 total touchdowns, but he was benched by the interim coaching staff down the stretch after James Franklin was fired. The Senior Bowl is a last chance for Singleton to show he is worthy of a second-round draft selection, which is where many had him heading into 2025.
Singleton is not in danger of not being drafted, unless something absolutely tragic happens. But he also has a lot of work to do to rebuild some of the draft capital he built up heading into his last season at Penn State. He already looks like he jeopardized his NFL stock by going back to school for his senior year, so Singleton is going to need to do some work in a hurry to build that back up.
KC Concepcion (WR – Texas A&M)
Why would a player who many believe will be drafted in the first round participate in the Senior Bowl and risk injury or poor practices instead of getting ready for the combine? There are rumors that scouts are starting to question KC Concepcion’s size and ability to withstand the rigors of a full NFL schedule. Concepcion is listed at just 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds. Plenty of wide receivers have succeeded with those measurements, but there is also a long list of dynamic speedsters who didn’t have the size to make it in the NFL.
After transferring from NC State, Concepcion had two outstanding seasons at Texas A&M, including almost 1,000 total yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025. He was one of the top recruits coming into college, but now finds himself having to showcase his abilities on every stage possible to make sure teams know they are getting a strong return on their investment.
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